7 tips on how to make a career out of Instagram

If you are an expert in makeup application, graphic design, photography, heck even palaeontology! Everything can be photographed these days, but the more you focus on one branch of expertise, the more you can hone in and win the followers you need to keep progressing your insta-career.

It can be tricky to decide what to post and when. When managers and scouts land on your page, you want to make sure it's representing you in the best way. Make sure your profile always has high quality and crystal clear photos, but also try and post a combination of career-driven photos and leisurely photos that will make you seem approachable. You are more likely to get contacted if a recruiter or employer can relate to you.

Networking on Instagram is usually done through comments. Follow the accounts that have something to do with your brand. For example if you're a makeup blogger, follow MAC, Sephora and RuPaul's Drag Race. Engage with the higher level accounts as well as the lower level accounts. Compliment someone's false lashes, like their photos and tag them in your own even. Use hashtags to build your network based on common interests.

Something people underestimate when they're building their brand is to include photos of their everyday lives. If you go to a new restaurant in your neighbourhood, be sure to post about your experience and tag the restaurant as well as other people who also frequented it. This will build your network and you may get opportunities you never even thought you'd get.

Shout outs are when you mention someone's profile on your account and they do the same for you. It's kind of an exchange and it really helps to build your network. You could even ask another Instagrammer to shout you out by messaging them directly.

Sometimes you'll be posting and posting and trying so hard but you're not getting a lot of feedback or the connections you want. The best thing to do when this happens is to dial it back and get back to why you started Instagramming in the first place. If you find yourself engaging with companies that you don't necessarily believe in, maybe it's time to check in and reach out to those who you really believe in.

The most important thing you can do in order to achieve Instagram success is to not give up! There will be times when all you hear is crickets, but as long as you believe in what you're doing you will soldier on. Just make sure you limit your posts to once a day and even once every few days. If you post too much, other users may block you because they don't want to see so many posts.